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Modern Slavery. Gustave Boulanger’s The Slave Market (1882). Tea picker in Kirinyaga, Kenya (2001). Chris Barrett Cornell University January 27, 2008. The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. 11-20 mn people shipped from Africa to Americas, 1480-1880
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Modern Slavery Gustave Boulanger’s The Slave Market (1882) Tea picker in Kirinyaga, Kenya (2001) Chris Barrett Cornell University January 27, 2008
The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade 11-20 mn people shipped from Africa to Americas, 1480-1880 Elmina Castle, Ghana – first and largest slave point in Africa … and also home to the oldest Catholic church in Africa.
Slavery Abolished? • Slavery supposedly abolished in the 19th century: • - UK Wilberforce/Pitt and 1807 Abolition • - US Emancipation Proclamation (1862) • - Brazilian ban on slave trade (1888) • Banned internationally by agreements: • - 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 4 • - 1956 Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery
Plus ça change … • Slavery is based on power … the forced exploitation of another’s work. Often involves violence. • Driven by economics … competition to reduce production costs (demand for slaves) and desire to find better work or make profit through capture (supply of slaves). • Poorer communities and households are the main sources, richer ones the destinations. Poverty and inequality a major driver of slavery. • Big and lucrative business – $ billions profit from trafficking 500K-1 mn persons each year.
What’s Different Today • Less visible because of illegality … less chattel slavery than in previous centuries. • More services (sex work, domestic, soldier) and less manufacturing … economic change. • Proportionately more children and women. • More “lure” than “capture” slavery, largely through tricking youth into distant jobs or through debt peonage/bonded labor. • Slaves are far cheaper … disposable workers. • Far greater scale … probably 25-30 million people. 1 mn children forced into prostitution/yr (UNICEF)!
What Can We Do • Be aware and vigilant … sex trafficking on Craig’s List, locked up domestic workers, etc. • Encourage greater local action by church and public officials … roughly as many people are trafficked in the US each year as murdered (~18,000). • Support programs that help prevent kids from falling prey and that aid victims of human trafficking (visas, supporting charities, etc.): Free The Slaves, Polaris Project, Coalition Against Slavery and Trafficking, NotForSale Campaign, etc. • Buy products labelled/certified for fair/ethical trade (Rugmark, chocolate, soccer balls, etc.)
If you were born to a poor woman in rural Africa, what would you want others to do for you?